NRB win Nedbank Cup thriller
IN a game they always looked like winning but still managed to have their fans fearing the worst, Richards Bay FC strikers hit top form as they edged Polokwane City 3-2 in their Nedbank Cup Last 32 round on Saturday.
After a measured start by both sides, the action got as hot and stifling as the 38C onfield temperature at the King Zwelithini Stadium.
It always takes a goal to get a cup match firing and this was the case after NRB missed three clear-cut chances before, against the run of play, a harmless Polokwane long ball in the 30th minute led to a cross from the right, and a powerful header by Douglas Mapfumo beat Jackson Mabokgwane (0-1).
That lead lasted just two minutes as Justice Figuareido nodded home a super Sanele
Barns corner to level matters (1-1).
Two minutes later the Rich Boyz had the lead when a powerful long range shot from Thulani Gumede slid under the diving Manuel Sapunga, who was beaten by the bounce (2-1).
Two more massive chances went a-begging before the break as Gumede shot tamely while in the clear, and Barns intercepted a stray back pass but didn’t make the most of it.
Stats at half time showed that NRB had had ten chances, seven of which were on target.
Five minutes into the second stanza, ace defender Thabane Dube went off injured and his solid presence was sorely missed minutes later when a Polokwane aerial corner went unchallenged and some ball watching led to the soft equaliser (2-2).
On the hour mark, Somila Ntsundwana was brought on for the tiring Figuareido, who had played a massive game, and the big man was soon called into action with a header that may have been deemed a goal had there been VAR.
With 20 minutes to go, a super assist from Ntsundwana laid the ball at the feet of man of the match Gumede and he put his laces through the leather from a tight angle to bamboozle Sapunga for the second time (3-2).
With time running out, NRB coach Vusi Vilakazi brought on Yanela Mbuthuma and Langelihle Mhlongo for
Khuda Muyaba and Moses Mthembu.
There was one final scare when Polokane struck the upright in the final minute of extra time, but the job was done.
Especially pleasing was the number of chances created, which augers well for the rest of the DStv Premiership season, when goals alone will preserve their PSL status.